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  .., 2026.



Alexandre Dumas  

Two Dianas  



Part One  



I

The Count's Son and the King's Daughter     

It happened on May 5, 1551.   5  1551 . An eighteen-year-old boy and a woman of about forty left a modest country house and slowly walked along the street of a village called Montgomery.                 ,  .

The young man was a splendid Norman type: chestnut hair, blue eyes, white teeth, bright lips.       :  ,  ,  ,  . The freshness and velvetiness of his skin lent a certain delicacy, almost femininity, to his beauty.        ,    ,  . He was, however, remarkably built: moderately strong and flexible as a reed.   , ,  :     ,  . His clothes were simple but elegant.    ,  . A doublet of dark purple cloth, embroidered with silk of the same color, fit him smartly; his breeches were of the same cloth and with the same trim; high black boots, such as were usually worn by pages and squires, rose above the knees; a velvet beret, pushed to one side, set off his high forehead, on which lay not only the seal of calm, but also of spiritual fortitude.      - ,     ;            ;   ,      ,   ;  ,  ,    ,       ,    .

The riding horse, which he led behind him by the bridle, threw up its head from time to time and, flaring its nostrils, neighed.  ,       ,     ,  , .

The woman, by her appearance, belonged, if not to the peasant class, then, probably, to the intermediate class between the peasants and the bourgeoisie.          , , ,       . The young man asked her several times to lean on his arm, but she refused each time, as if, given her position, she considered herself unworthy of such an honor.        ,     ,         .

As they walked along the street leading to the castle, which rose majestically above the modest village, it was easy to notice that not only the youth and adults, but also the old people bowed low to the young man passing by them.     ,   ,      ,   ,      ,         . Everyone seemed to recognize him as their lord and master.        . But this young man, as we will now see, did not know who he was.     ,    ,   ,   .

Once outside the village, they turned onto a road, or rather, a path, leading steeply up the mountain.   ,     , ,  ,    . It was simply impossible to walk along it side by side, and therefore  however, only after some hesitation and persistent requests from the young man  the woman went ahead.       ,    ,             .

The young man silently followed her.     . A shadow of some heavy concern lay on his pensive face.       -  .

Beautiful and formidable was the castle where these two travelers, so different in age and position, were heading.     ,     ,      . It took four centuries and ten generations for this entire stone colossus to dominate the mountain.      ,          . Like all the buildings of that era, the castle of the Earls of Montgomery did not at all represent a single architectural ensemble.      ,          . It passed from father to son, and each owner, based on his whims or needs, added something to this gigantic pile of stones.      ,   ,      , -      . The square tower, the main citadel of the castle, was built under the Dukes of Normandy.  ,   ,      . Then turrets with graceful battlements, with carved windows, began to be added to the stern stronghold, and all this stone carving multiplied and increased over the years.          ,   ,           . Finally, a long gallery with Gothic windows, built at the end the reign of Louis XII and the beginning of the reign of Francis I, completed the centuries-old accumulation. ,     ,      XII     I,   .

But now our travelers have approached the main gate.        .

A strange thing!  ! For fifteen years this magnificent castle had been without an owner.           . The old manager still collected rent, and the servants, already aged, still maintained order in the castle, unlocking the gates every morning, as if expecting the arrival of the owner, and locking them every evening, as if the owner had postponed his return until the morning.       ,  ,  ,     ,    ,     ,     ,       .

The manager received both visitors with the friendliness with which everyone treated this woman, and with the respect which everyone apparently had for this young man.       ,       ,    ,  , -,    .

Mr. Elio, the woman addressed him, would you allow us to enter the castle?   ,     ,         ? I need to tell Mister Gabriel something, she pointed at the young man, and I can only tell him this in the main hall.   -   ,     ,           .

What can we talk about, Madame Alois!     ,  ! Of course, come in, said Elio, and tell the young master wherever you are, whatever is on your heart. , ,   ,        ,     .

They passed the guardhouse, walked along the gallery and finally entered the main hall.   ,         .

It was furnished exactly as it had been on the day its last owner left it.      ,     ,     . But no one had entered this hall, where all the Norman nobility had once gathered, for fifteen years, except servants.    ,      ,      ,  .

It was into this room that Gabriel entered, not without some excitement (the reader, we hope, has not forgotten that this is what the woman called the young man).   -       (, ,  ,      ). However, the impression made on him by the gloomy walls, the majestic canopy, the deep windows, could not distract his thoughts from the main purpose that brought him here, and as soon as the door closed behind them, he said:  ,     ,  ,  ,        ,   , ,      ,  :

 Well, my good nurse, although you seem to be more excited than me, now there is nowhere to retreat, I will have to tell you what I promised.  ,   ,  , ,    ,    ,    ,   . Speak without fear, and above all - do not delay.   ,     . Enough of hesitation, and I should not wait.  ,      . When I asked you what name I have the right to bear, what family I came from, who my father is, you answered me: Gabriel, I will tell you all this on the day you turn eighteen years old.    ,     ,     ,   ,   :,       ,     . Then you will become an adult and will have the right to wear a sword.          . And so today, May 5, one thousand five hundred and fifty-one, I turned eighteen years old and I demanded that you keep your word, but you answered with terrifying solemnity: Not in the humble house of the widow of a poor stableman should I open your eyes to who you are, but in the ceremonial hall of the castle of the Earls of Montgomery!   ,       ,           ,      :              ,   ,       ! And so We climbed the mountain, stepped over the threshold of the castle of noble counts and now find ourselves in the ceremonial hall.       ,          . Speak then!  !

- Sit down, Gabriel.  , . You will allow me to call you that again, wont you?         ?

The young man, in a fit of deep gratitude, squeezed her hands.        .

Dont sit on this chair or this armchair, she continued.       ,    ,   .

Where should I sit, nurse?     , ?  the young man was surprised.    .

Under this canopy, said Alois with a certain solemnity.    ,     -  .

The young man obeyed.  .

Alois nodded to him:   :

- Now listen to me.    .

But you sit down too, Gabriel asked.     ,   .

- Do you allow it?   ?

- Are you making fun of me, nurse?   ,   , ?

Alois sat down on the steps at the young man's feet, and he cast an attentive glance at her, full of benevolence and curiosity.        ,       ,    .

Gabrielle, the nurse began, finally daring to speak, you were barely six years old when you lost your father.  ,   ,   ,      ,    . That same year I became a widow.      . I nursed you: your mother died giving birth to you, and I, her foster sister, loved you as my own child from that day on.   :   ,    ,  ,   ,      ,   . The widow dedicated her life to the orphan.     .

Dear Alois, exclaimed the young man, I swear to you, not every mother would have done for her child what you have done for me!   ,   ,   ,         ,     !

Besides, continued the nurse, I was not the only one who took care of you.  ,   ,       . Monsieur Jamet de Croisic, the venerable chaplain of this castle, who recently passed away, diligently taught you literacy and science, and no one, according to him, can reproach you for reading, writing and familiarity with the history of the past ... Enguerrand Lorient, a close friend of my late husband, taught you to ride and handle weapons, a lance and a sword - in a word, all the knightly arts, and already two years ago in Alen?on, at the competitions on the occasion of the coronation of our sovereign Henry II, you proved that you had well received Enguerrands lessons.    ,   ,    ,      ,  ,   ,       ,        ,     ,       ,     ,   ,                  ,     . I, poor ignoramus, could only love you and teach you the fear of God.  ,  ,        . And now, at the age of eighteen, you are a pious Christian, a learned gentleman, a master in military affairs, and I hope that with God's help you will be worthy of your ancestors, Monseigneur Gabriel de Lorge, Count de Montgomery.  ,    ,    ,  ,    ,   ,         ,    ,   .

Gabriel jumped up impulsively:   :

 I am the Count de Montgomery!      !  Then he smiled proudly.     .  Well, I thought so, I almost guessed it.    ,    ,     . You know, Alois, I once shared these childhood dreams of mine with little Diana... But why are you sitting at my feet, Alois? , ,      -           , ? Get up, embrace me, holy woman. ,  ,  . Will you really stop looking at me as your child now just because I am the heir of the Montgomery family?             ,     ? The heir of Montgomery!  !  he repeated with involuntary pride, embracing his nurse.       ,   .  The heir of Montgomery!    ! So, I bear one of the most ancient and most famous names in France... Roger Montgomery commanded one of the armies of William the Conqueror; One of the Crusades was carried out at his own expense by Guillaume Montgomery... We are connected by family ties with the royal houses of Scotland and France, and the most noble lords of London and the most famous representatives of the Parisian nobility will call me their relative!  ,                   ;                    ,              ! Finally, my parent... ,  

Here the young man broke off his speech, as if he had encountered an obstacle.     ,    . But he immediately began speaking again:     :

 Alas, despite all this, Alois, I am alone in this world.  ,    , ,     . I, the offspring of so many royal ancestors, am a poor orphan, deprived of a father! ,    ,   ,  ! And my mother!   ! She, too, is dead!   ! Oh, tell me about them, so that I know what they were like! ,    ,   ,   ! Begin with my father.   . How did he die?   ? Tell me about it.    .

Alois did not answer.    . Gabriel looked at her in amazement.     .

I ask you, nurse, how did my father die?    , ,    ?  he repeated.    .

 Monseigneur!  ! Perhaps only God knows.  ,  ,    . Count Jacques de Montgomery once left his mansion in Paris and never returned.               . Friends and relatives searched for him in vain.      . He disappeared, Monseigneur.  , . King Francis I ordered an investigation, but it led to nothing.      ,       . If he fell victim to some betrayal, then his enemies were very clever or very influential.     - ,         . You have no father, Monseigneur, and yet the tomb of Jacques Montgomery is missing from the chapel of your castle: he was never found, either alive or dead.    , ,           :  ,      .

Because his own son did not look for him!        ! exclaimed Gabriel.    . Oh, nurse, why did you remain silent for so long?   , ,     ? Was it not because Ihad the duty to avenge my father... or save him?   ,           ?

 No, but only because I had to save you myself, Monseigneur.  ,   ,       , . Listen to me.  . Do you know what were the last words of my husband, the glorious Perrault Travigny, for whom your house was a shrine?   ,      ,   ,      ? Wife, he said to me a few moments before he breathed his last, do not wait for my funeral, just close my eyes and leave Paris at once with the child. ,         ,   ,     ,            . Settle in Montgomery, but not in the castle, but in the house that Monseigneur has granted us.   ,    ,   ,    . There you will raise the heir of our masters, without making a secret of it, but without divulging anything either!      ,     ,     ! Our countrymen will love him and will not betray him.        . The main thing is to hide his origin from himself, otherwise he will appear in society and thereby destroy himself.        ,          . Let him know only that he belongs to the noble class.    ,     . Then, when he grows up and becomes a cautious, prudent, valiant and honest man - in a word, when he is eighteen years old, tell him his name and family, Alois. ,      , ,      ,     ,      , . Then he will judge for himself what he must and what he can do.    ,      . But until then, be on your guard: terrible enmity, ineradicable hatred would pursue him if he were discovered!      :  ,     ,    ! He who overtook and slew the eagle will not spare his tribe. " ,     ,     . Having said this, he died, Monseigneur, and I, obedient to his behest, took you, a poor six-year-old orphan, who had only briefly seen her parent, and brought you here.  ,  , ,  ,   ,  ,   ,     ,   . Here they already knew about the disappearance of the Count and suspected that terrible and merciless enemies threaten everyone who wears his name.       ,       ,    . The local residents saw you and, of course, recognized you, but by tacit consent no one questioned me, no one was surprised by my silence.     , , ,        ,     . Some time later, my only son, your foster brother, died of a fever.      ,   ,   . The Lord, apparently, wanted me to belong entirely to you. ,,  ,     . Everyone pretended to believe that it was not you who survived, but my son.   ,  ,      ,   . But you began to resemble - both in appearance and character - your father.        ,       . The makings of a lion were awakening in you.     . It was clear to everyone that you were destined to be a ruler.   ,     . Tribute in the form of the best fruits, a tithe from the harvest came to my house without any requests.    ,           . The best horse from the herd was always provided to you.       . Monsieur Jamet, Enguerrand and all the servants of the castle saw in you their rightful ruler.  ,           . Everything in your behavior revealed valor, scope, courage... And now, finally, you, unharmed, entered that age when I was allowed to trust your common sense and prudence.      , ,     , ,    ,         . But you, usually so reserved and cautious, immediately started talking about open revenge!  ,     ,     !

- About revenge, yes, but not about open revenge.     ,    . What do you think, Alois, are the enemies of my unfortunate father still alive?   , ,      ?

 I dont know, Monseigneur.   , . However, its better to count on being alive.     ,  . And if, lets say, you were to appear at court under your brilliant name, but without friends, without allies, and even without personal merits, what would happen?   , ,       ,   ,       ,   ? Those who hate you would immediately notice your appearance, but you wouldnt notice them. ,   ,     ,  -   . They would strike you, and you would never know where it came from, and not only would your father remain unavenged, but you, Monseigneur, would also perish.    ,      ,   ,       ,    , .

 Thats why I regret, Alois, that I have no time to make friends and a little glory.  -   , ,          . Ah, if only I had known about this two years ago! ,         ! But still!   ! This is only a delay, and I will make up for lost time.   ,     . Now I only need to walk twice as fast.        . I will go to Paris, Alois, and, without hiding that I am Montgomery, I will keep silent that my father is Count Jacques.    , , ,  ,   , ,      . However, I can call myself Viscount d'Exmes, Alois, that is, not to hide, but not to attract attention to myself. ,     , ,    ,       . Then I will turn to... Whose help should I turn to at court?            ? Perhaps to the Constable of Montmorency, to that cruel blasphemer? ,  ,    ? No, and I understand why You frowned, Alois... To Marshal de Saint-Andr? ,   ,   ,     -? He is not young enough and not very enterprising... Wouldn't it be better to go to Francis de Guise?      -        ? Yes, that's best. ,   . At Montmdy, Saint-Dizier, in Bologna, he has already shown what he is capable of.  , -,     ,   . It is to him that I will go, under his command I will earn my spurs, under his banners I will make a name for myself.  -   ,      ,      .

Allow me, Monsignor, to tell you again, Alois remarked, that the honest and faithful Elio had time to put aside considerable money for the heir of his masters.   , ,   ,   ,               . You will be able to live like a king, Monsignor, and your young vassals, whom you trained in military affairs, will be obliged and happy to truly fight under your command.    -, ,    ,     ,     -    . You have every right to call them to arms, you know that, Monsignor.        ,   , .

- And we will use this right, Aloiza, we will use it!      , ,   !

 Would it be pleasing to Monsignor to immediately receive all his courtiers, servants, and vassals who wish to bow to you?           , , ,    ?

- Let's wait a little longer, my good Alois.   ,   . Better tell Martin-Guerr to saddle his horse.   -  . I need to go somewhere nearby.    - .

In the direction of Vimoutiers, perhaps?      ?  Alois smiled slyly.     .

- Perhaps.   . Shouldn't I visit and thank old Enguerrand?         ?

- And at the same time see little Diana?        ?

But she is my wife, laughed Gabriel, and I have been her husband for three years nowthat is to say, since I was fifteen and she was nine years old.      ,   ,         ,    ,    ,    .

Alois thought about it.  .

My lord, she said, if I did not know how lofty and deep your feelings are, I would refrain from the advice I dare to give you now.  ,   ,      ,      ,     ,     . But what is a game for others is a serious matter for you.     ,     . Do not forget, my lord, that Dianas origin is unknown.  , ,    . One day, Enguerrands wife, who was with him at that time in Fontainebleau in the retinue of her master, the Count of Vimoutiers, returned home and found the baby in the cradle and saw a heavy purse of gold on the table.   ,            ,  , ,  ,           . In the purse were found, besides the gold, half a carved ring and a piece of paper with only one word: Diana.    ,  ,          : . Berthe, Enguerrands wife, was childless and joyfully began to care for the baby. ,  ,         . But on her return to Vimoutiers she died, and as I, a woman, she raised an orphan boy, and he, her husband, raised an orphan girl.       ,   , ,  -,   ,  ,  -. The same concerns fell on me and on Enguerrand, and we dealt with them together; I tried to teach Diana goodness and piety, while Enguerrand taught you science and dexterity.        ,      ;       ,       . It is quite understandable that you met Diana and became attached to her.  ,         . However, you are the Count de Montgomery, and no one has ever come for Diana with the other half of a gold ring.      ,            . Be careful, Monseigneur.  , . I know that Diana is only a twelve-year-old child, but she will grow up and become a beauty, and with such a disposition as yours, nothing can be trifled with, I repeat.  ,       ,      ,    ,   ,     , . Be careful! ! Perhaps she will live out her life as a foundling, and you are too noble a nobleman to marry her. ,       ,     ,    .

But I am going to leave, nurse, and leave both you and Diana, Gabriel objected thoughtfully.      , ,   ,  ,    .

- That's true.   . Forgive your old Alois for her excessive fears and go and visit this meek and sweet girl.               . But remember that you are eagerly awaited here.  ,      .

 Embrace me again, Alois.     , . Always call me your son, and I thank you a thousand times, my dear nurse.     ,     ,   .

 May you also be blessed a thousand times, my son and master!      ,    !

Martin-Guerre was already waiting for Gabriel at the gate. -     . One moment  and both of them jumped on their horses.         .



II

Newlywed with a Doll   

Gabriel took the familiar paths to reach the place as quickly as possible.    ,     . And yet he sometimes slowed his horse's pace.         . However, the gait of the noble animal depended, perhaps, on the train of thought of its owner. ,    , ,     . Indeed, the most varied feelings - joy and sorrow, delight and despondency - replaced each other in the heart of the young man.   ,       ,          . When he felt like Count de Montgomery, a fire lit up his eyes, and he spurred his steed, as if drunk with the scorching wind blowing in his face.       ,     ,    ,         . Then he suddenly remembered: "My father is killed and not avenged" - and let go of the reins.    :          . But then he remembered that he would fight, that his name would become terrible and formidable, that he would give honor to his enemies - and again he set off at a gallop, as if already flying towards glory.    ,    ,       ,       ,     ,      . However, as soon as he thought that this would require parting with little Diana, he again fell into despondency and gradually switched from a gallop to a slow walk, as if trying to postpone the painful moment of separation.    ,        ,             ,       . And yet he would return, having found the enemies of his father and Diana's parents!  -  ,       ! And Gabriel rushed forward as swiftly as his hopes.       ,    . When he arrived, joy finally triumphed over sad thoughts.   ,      .

Beyond the hedge that surrounded the orchard of old Enguerrand, Gabriel saw Diana's white dress through the foliage of the trees.  ,     ,        . Having tied his horse to a willow stump, he jumped over the hedge and, beaming with joy, fell at the girl's feet.     ,     ,   ,    .

But Diana burst into tears.    .

 What has happened?   ?  cried Gabriel.    .  What has upset us so cruelly?       ? Did Enguerrand scold us for tearing our clothes or for not learning our prayers?       ,         ? Has our bullfinch flown away?     ? Speak, Diana! , ! Your faithful knight, ready to console you, stands before you!   ,   ,   !

Alas, Gabriel, you are mistaken, you will no longer be my knight, Diana responded, and that is why I am crying.  , ,  ,      ,   ,   -   .

Gabriel thought that Enguerrand had told Diana his real name and that she probably wanted to test him.  ,          , ,   . And he replied:   :

 Can anything make me give up the title that you have given me and which I wear with such joy and pride?    -      ,             ? Look  I am at your feet!      !

But Diana did not seem to understand his words and, crying even harder, buried her face right into the young mans chest.  , ,     ,   ,     .

- Gabriel!  ! Gabriel! ! We wont be able to see each other from now on.     .

Who will stop us?     ? he asked cheerfully.     .

She raised her beautiful blond head and, looking at him with blue, tear-filled eyes, said with importance:       ,    ,   ,   :

 Duty!  !  and she sighed deeply.     .

Her beautiful face was frozen in such a hilarious grimace that the delighted Gabriel, still in the grip of his thoughts, involuntarily laughed and, clasping the childs clear forehead with his palms, kissed him several times.        ,   ,       ,   ,     ,    . But Diana quickly moved away from him:      :

- No, my friend, enough of such conversations.  ,  ,   . Oh my God!   ! We cant talk like before!     ,  !

What kind of tales did Enguerrand tell her?      ?  thought Gabriel, not understanding anything, and added out loud:    ,   ,   :

- So you fell out of love with me, Diana?     , ?

 Stop loving you!   !  she cried.    .  How can you say such things, Gabriel?        , ? Arent you my childhood friend, my brother for life?      ,      ? Havent you been kind and gentle with me?         ? Who carried me in his arms when I was tired?     ,   ? Who helped me with my lessons?     ? You, you! , ! Who invented so many games for me?      ? Who picked me wonderful bouquets in the meadows?       ? Who found the goldfinches nests in the woods?      ? All you, all you!  ,  ! I will never forget you!     ! But, in spite of all this, alas, we must part, and part forever. ,    , ,   ,   .

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